Condenser



OFFTHKE a4 Feb. 16, 1932. c. B. TULEY CONDENSER Original Filed Sept. 18, 1930 INVENTOR C. B Tum-2y. BY I ATTORNEY Fla 2.

0 00 0000 0 o o 4 Q Patented Feb. 16; 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFIJCE CHARLES B. TULEY, OF GLENOLDEN, PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNOR T'O WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CONDENSER Application filed September 18,-1930, Serial No. 482,859. Renewed November 13, 1931.

My invention relates to surface apparatus for condensing gaseous media and particularly to surface-apparatus of the down-flow type intended primarily for condensing steam and it has for an object to provide apparatus of this character which shall be so constructed and arranged as to effectively utilize the entire cooling surface of the apparatus in order that it may operate at a high heat transfer rate.

In the copending application of J. H. Smith, Serial No. 412,800, filed December 9, 1929, and assigned to the WVestinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, there is disclosed and claimed a form of condenser wherein the tube nest is so arranged that it embodies a longitudinally-extending cavity or passageway for the circulation of gaseous media through the condenser'shell in a direction from the relatively warm or cooling water exit end of the tube nest toward the relatively cold or cooling water entrant end of the tube nest. By providing for such longitudinal circulation of gaseous media in the condenser shell, the entire tube nest is rendered highlyefi'ective for condensing purposes. In addition, the air and other noncondensable gases are removed at the relatively cold or exit end of the condenser so that, not only are all of the tubes of the nest rendered-highly effective for condensing purposes, but by the provision of suitable bafiles, some of the tubes at the cold end of the tube nest may be rendered highly effective for cooling the air and other non-condensablc gaseous media prior to the removalthereof from the condenser.

In the aforesaid application, the longitudinally-extending passageway is located in an interior portion of the tube nest, the gaseous media to be condensed traveling radially through the tube nest toward the longitudinally-extending passageway. Such a condenser is known in the art as a condenser of the radial flow, 'coreless type and it is especially adapted for relatively large capacities.

In the present application, I disclose a form of condenser which is predicated on the principles set forth inthe aforesaid Smith ap- 0 plication but which is especially applicable head. In accordance with my invention, the

air is removed from the cold end of the condenser and suitable baffle structure is provided for directing gaseous media from the passageway over a portion of the cold end of the tube nest in order that the air may be reduced to minimum temperature before its removal from the condenser.

It is, therefore, a more particular object of my invention to provide a form of condenser of the down-flow type which shall embody a passageway devoid of tubes for the free and natural circulation of gaseous media longitudinally through the shell structure to the cold portion of the tube nest or region of relatively high heat head.

It has for still another object to provide a condenser of the foregoing character, wherein the longitudinal movement of the steam and noncondensable gaseous media from the relatively warm portion of the tube nest toward the relatively cold portion thereof shall assume a path or route'which digresses from the longitudinal passageway into a portion of the coldest end of the tube nest in order that the condensable components of the longitudinally moving media may be con-. densed and in order that the non-condensable components may be cooled prior to their removal from the condenser shell.

These and other objects are effected by my invention, as will be apparent from the, following description and claims taken in' connection with the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional View,

ing one form of condenser embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 1s a vertical. cross-sectlonal view taken along. the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; and

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in cross-section taken along the radial line III-III of Fig. 2, showing the longitudinal passa eway at theside of the shell.

Re er'ring to the drawings, I show a downflow type of condenser having a shell 11 provided with an inlet 12 for steam to be con.- densed and a hot well 13 having an outlet 14 for the discharge of condensate from the condenser. A nest of tubes 15 extends longi tudinally through the shell 11 and is sup ported at its ends by end tube sheets 16 and 19 and, intermediate-of its ends, by intermediate tube sheets 17 and 18, all of the tube sheets being secured to the shell structure in a manner well understood in the art. The tube sheets divide the tube nest into sections 20, 21 and 22.

Cooling water isadmitted through an inlet water box 23 disposed at one end of the condenser shell, this end being hereinafter re-- "ferred to as the cold end, and, after passing through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, it is discharged through an outlet water box 23! located at the other end of the shell, this ,end being hereinafter referred to as the relatively warm end. An otftake 24 is located in the cold end of the shell 11 for the removal of air or other non-condensable gaseous media from the condenser.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, I prefer to so form the tube nest 15 that one side thereof is spaced from the shell structure so as to from an intervening steam delivery space 25. By means of such an arrangement, the entrant area through which steam to be condensed is admitted to the tube nest is materially enlarged as it includes one side of the tube nest in addition to the top of the tube nest. As

aresult, the steam may more readily penetrate the nest. r

The tube nest 15, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, is also-so arranged that the side thereof adjacent the ofl'take 24 is spaced from the shell structure 11 soas to provide a longitudinally-extending passageway 26 for the free and unrestricted circulation of gaseous media longitudinally through the shell structure from the warm end toward the cold end, the

intermediate tube sheets .17 and 18 being cut away at 27 and 28 inorder to provide openings of substantial flow-area and avoid inter-..

ruption of. the passage 26. Provided in the passage 26 are baflies 33 and 34 projecting inwardly'from the condenser shell toward or into the -nest to deflect steam and gaseous media into the nest as indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 3, whereby surplus steam as well as non-condensable gases entering the passage '26 from a precedlng warmer section is recirculated 111B, succeeding cooler section to effect further condensation of steam and cooling of non-condensable gases. The baffle 34 is arranged in the cold section 20, and the passage 26 between the baffle 34. and the pff-take 24 is filled by any suitable structure 35 to constrain the passage of gaseous media passageway 26 in thatsection and a relatively wide portion 38 located in sections 21 and 20 and of sufficient width to cover that portion of the tube nest through which the gaseous media is recirculated, due to the battles 33 and 34, longitudinally toward the ofl'take 24:.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my invention will be apparent. Steam to be condensed enters the shell structure 11 through the inlet 12 and surrounds a sub stantial portion of the periphery of the tube nest as the entering steam not only occupies the inlet portion 12 but the transversely-dis posed steam delivery space as well. I

- Steam passes inwardly in each of the sections 20,21 and 22 of the tube nest in the direction of the passageway 26 andrundergoes condensation. The capacity for 'condensation increases from the warm to the cold end p and steam among the cold section tubes before of the condenser; and, on this account, any

steam entering the passage 26 and not condensed in the warm and intermediate sections, as well as non-condensable media" received from these sections flows withoutres'triction through the substantial openings 27 and 28 in v the intermediate tube sheets toward the cold end of the condenser or region of highest heat head. This flow is further induced by the action of the air withdrawalmeans (not shown) which connects with the oiftake 24,

baflies 33 and 3t deflect the gaseous media thus recirculated into. a portion of the cold end of the tube nest, wherebyfurther condensation takes place' and"the, non-condensable gases in awarmer section is caused to" recirculate amonggtubes of a cooler section so that such succeeding cooler section cooperates with the preceding warmer section to effect condensation of surplus steam hischargedfrom the preceding warmer section. i

From the foregoin it will be apparent that have devised a. orm of downsfiow-condenser which has an extraordinary capacity box dis for heat transfer consistent with the extent of its cooling surface, which produces condensate of maximum temperature and which cools the air and other non-condensable' gases to minimum temperature.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, an inlet water box disposed at one end of the tube nest and defining a cold end thereof, an outlet water box dis osed at the other end of the tube nest and (1e ning a warm end thereof, said tube nest having a portion of its periphery spaced from a portion of a wall of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening passageway for the longitudinal circulation of gaseous media, an air outlet provided in the shell structure near the cold end thereof, and baffle means disposed in the passageway between the air outlet and the warm end of the condenser for deflecting gaseous media from the passageway into the tube nestl 2. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, an inlet water box disposed at one end of the tube nest and defining a cold end thereof, an outlet'water box disposed at the other end of the tube nest and defining a warm end thereof, said. tube nest having a portion of its periphery spaced from a portion of a side wall of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening passageway for the longitudinal circulation of gaseous media, air outlet means provided in the shell structure near the cold end thereof, and a'baffle extending transversely of the passageway and spaced, longitudinally, from the air outlet in the direction of the warm end of the tube nest for deflecting gaseous media flowing through the passageway toward the air outlet'into the tube nest.

3. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, an inlet water box disposed at one end of the tube nest and defining a cold end thereof, an outlet water os'ed at the other end of the tube nest 1 and de ning a warm end thereof, said tube nest having a cut-away portion forming with means disposed in the passageway between the air outlet and the warm end of the condenser for deflecting gaseous media from the passageway into the tube nest.

4. In a condenser, the combination of a' shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for con densate, a tube nest supported within the shell structure and extending longitudinally thereof, an air ofl'take provided in the shell near one end of the tube nest, said tube nest being formed to provide, in cooperation with the shell structure, a longitudinally-extending passageway for the unrestricted circulation of gaseous media along one side of the shell toward the air otftake, and means disposed at one or more places in said passage way for diverting gaseous media from the passageway into adjacent portions of the tube nest.

5.'In a condenser, the combination of a box disposed at one end of the tube nest and defining afcold end thereof and an outlet water box disposed at the other end of the tube nest and defining a 'warm end thereof, said tube nest having a portion of its periphery spaced from a portion of the-side wall of the shell structure so as to provide an intervening cavity for the longitudinal circulation of gaseous media, an air outlet provided in the shell structure near the cold end thereof, and means disposed in said cavity and extending from the air outlet toward the warm end of the condenser for closing a portion of the cavity lying adjacent to "said air outlet means, whereby the gaseous media is diverted from the cavity and vis caused to circulate through a portion of the tube nest as it approachesthe air outlet.

6. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, an inlet water box associated with one end of the shell and an outlet water box associated with the otherend of the shell, a tube nest extend-- ing longitudinally through the shell and embodying a portion for the transverse flow of gaseous media anda portion for the longitudinal flow of gaseous'media, said longitudinal flow portion being disposed near the s end of the shell adjacent the inlet water box and said tube nest and shell cooperating to form a lon itudinally-extending cavity of substantialfiow-area for the circulation of gaseous media to the longitudinal flow portionof the tube nest, and means cormnunicat ing with the tube nest near the end'of the shell adjacent the inlet water box for removin'g air and non-condensable gaseous media -fromthe shell.

In a condenser, the combinationof a shell having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a

tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest and defining a cold end thereof, and an outletiwater'box associated- With the other end of the tube nest and defining a relatively Warm end thereof, said Water boxes providing for? circulation of cooling Water in asingle, longltudinal direction through the tube nest and said tube nest .Way nearthe cold end of the being formed to provide a longitudinallyextending passageway for the circulation of gaseous media alongcone side of the condenser shell, a baflieextending from the side of the shell overthepassageway and into the tubenest, said baflle extending a greater distance into the tube nest at the cold end than at the warm end of the tube nest, and anair ofitake in communication with said passagetlibe nest.' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of September,

CHARLES E. TULEXY. 

